U.S. patent number 5,523,931 [Application Number 08/225,057] was granted by the patent office on 1996-06-04 for high lumen output fluorescent lamp fixture.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Intrepid Lighting Manufacturing, Inc.. Invention is credited to Charles E. Kassay, J. Peter Kassay, Marc A. Kassay.
United States Patent |
5,523,931 |
Kassay , et al. |
June 4, 1996 |
High lumen output fluorescent lamp fixture
Abstract
An alternative lighting system luminaire to conventional high
intensity discharge light fixtures such as mercury vapor, metal
halide, high pressure sodium lighting fixtures includes a
translucent reflector/refractor with a starburst pattern of
fluorescent lights to provide both greater lumen production per
watt with uplight capabilities for an even distribution of light.
This system allows one-for-one fixture replacement when substituted
for 400 watt metal halide and 1000 watt mercury vapor high
intensity discharge lighting fixtures in design or replacement
applications. The luminaire utilizes very high efficiency "Dulux L"
high lumen compact fluorescent lamps, which each are shaped like a
single inverted "U" and are a minimum of 16 inches long. The lamps
extend from the base of reflector and/or refractor in a starburst
pattern, wherein the lamps extend both downward and outward. The
lamps are secured and powered by clamping sockets fastened to a
plate, which is mounted in a range extending from at the base to
approximately one fourth the distance between the base and the
larger end of the reflector and/or refractor. Ballasts are located
in an enclosure mounted above and outside, or are remoted from the
reflector/refractor.
Inventors: |
Kassay; Charles E. (Smithtown,
NY), Kassay; J. Peter (Smithtown, NY), Kassay; Marc
A. (Smithtown, NY) |
Assignee: |
Intrepid Lighting Manufacturing,
Inc. (Ronkonkoma, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22843345 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/225,057 |
Filed: |
April 8, 1994 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/235; 362/225;
362/245; 362/260; 362/327 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S
8/04 (20130101); F21Y 2103/37 (20160801); F21Y
2113/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
7/00 (20060101); F21V 11/00 (20060101); F21V
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;362/225,235,260,297,404,216,244,245,246,327,363,355,356,361 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
1085180 |
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Jan 1955 |
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FR |
|
945777 |
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Jul 1956 |
|
DE |
|
4-75204 |
|
Mar 1992 |
|
JP |
|
878534 |
|
Oct 1961 |
|
GB |
|
Other References
Lighting Sciences, Inc., 7830 E. Evans Rd., Scottsdale, AZ USA
85260; Certified Test Report #LSI10775, dated May 5, 1992. .
Luminaire Testing Laboratory, 905 Harrison Street, Allentown, PA
18103, Report #01481, dated Feb. 24, 1994. .
Tupper Lighting Applications, POB 794, Baldwinville, NY 13027,
Maxi-9 Analysis, dated Mar. 8, 1994..
|
Primary Examiner: Husar; Stephen F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Walker; Alfred M.
Claims
We claim:
1. A lighting fixture comprising in combination: a concave,
translucent reflector/refractor having therein a small base end and
a larger light emitting end, said light fixture having at said
small base end thereof a ballast compartment containing a plurality
of lamp powering ballasts, each of said lamp powering ballasts
being connected to a lamp socket plate having a plurality of
sockets for respective plurality of lamps, each of said lamps being
provided with individual electrical power from a ballast,
independent from electrical power of each other ballast, said
concave, translucent reflector/refractor being responsive to
transmitting a portion of light from said lamps through said
concave, translucent reflector/refractor.
2. The lighting fixture as in claim 1 further comprising a support
collar attachable to said ballast compartment, said collar
supporting said reflector/refractor, said collar supporting said
socket mounting plate, said collar being hollow for insertion
therein of a plurality of wire leads to said sockets of said
lamps.
3. The socket support plate as in claim 2 further having from 6 to
12 socket mounting positions, said socket mounting plate having an
aperture for interior wiring of said sockets, said socket support
plate securing a support bracket for said lamps, said socket
support plate mountable between 0 to 1/2 the distance between said
smaller base end and said larger light emitting end of said
reflector/refractor.
4. The light fixture as in claim 3, further comprising a plurality
of sockets fastenable to said socket plate, each said socket
containing contacts for energizing each said lamps.
5. The socket as in claim 4 wherein said sockets have a clamping
action for securing said lamps in place, said sockets being
interchangeable for receiving a desired lamp of a predetermined
wattage.
6. The lamps as in claim 1, wherein said lamps have a wattage of at
least 32 watts, said lamps being fluorescent.
7. The lamps as in claim 6 wherein said lamps are between 6 to 12
lamps.
8. The reflector/refractor as in claim 1 responsive to reflecting
from 99% to 20% of emitted light downward, toward said larger light
emitting end.
9. The light fixture as in claim 1 wherein said lamps are
symmetrically placed around a center axis of said
reflector/refractor.
10. The reflector/refractor as in claim 1 having a translucence for
transmitting from 1-80% of said light to pass through said
reflector/refractor into an upper hemisphere of from 90 to 130
degrees of light output.
11. The reflector/refractor as in claim 1 further comprising a
means to diffuse the produced light.
12. The light fixture as in claim 1 wherein said
reflector/refractor is supported by a collar attachable to said
ballast compartment.
13. The reflector/refractor as in claim 1 further comprising a
light controlling lens added to said larger light emitting end of
said reflector/refractor for additional optical control of the
produced light which emerges through said larger light emitting end
of said lighting fixture end.
14. The ballast compartment as in claim 1 wherein said ballast
compartment is attached to said base end of said lighting
fixture.
15. The ballast compartment as in claim 1 wherein said ballast
compartment is remotely disposed to said lighting fixture.
16. The collar as in claim 2 wherein said collar further has
extension tabs supporting said reflector/refractor.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lighting fixture which more
efficiently produces lumens for large volume lighting
environments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many typical uses for high intensity discharge (H.I.D.)
lighting fixtures, such as for retail stores, warehouses,
commercial buildings, and other uses possessing relatively high
ceilings. H.I.D. lighting fixtures have been highly successful due
to their extreme amount of output of light. Sources of H.I.D.
lighting are mercury vapor, metal halide, and high pressure
sodium.
These H.I.D. fixtures typically include a single light source lamp
with a solid reflector utilized to direct the light in a downward
direction. This reflector is normally a bell shape or conical
shape. These prior art reflectors are made of reflective substances
such as polished aluminum to enhance the efficiency of the fixture.
The single lamp supplies direct light and light reflected off the
reflector in a downward direction.
The great quantity of light supplied by these prior art H.I.D.
fixtures, combined with a typical 1.5 to 1.7 light coverage
criteria, allows for a great light coverage area with fewer
fixtures.
The drawbacks to using these prior art H.I.D. light sources are the
use of excessive amounts of energy, poor color rendition,
diminishing lumen output, no choice of color temperatures, and a
lack of high efficiency electronic ballasts to power the H.I.D.
light sources.
An alternative prior art source of light has been fluorescent
lamped fixtures. These fluorescent lamped fixtures have typically
utilized long longitudinally extending cylindrical lamps, which are
mounted at or slightly below the ceiling level, parallel to the
floor surface. These prior art fluorescent lamp fixtures are
usually 1 to 4 tubes of four foot to eight foot lengths per
fixture, and these prior art fixtures utilize much lower wattage
per fixture than the prior art H.I.D. light fixtures. The
fluorescent lamped fixtures illuminate a rectangular area and they
are usually placed in rows mounted end to end. The draw back with
the prior art fluorescent fixtures is the large quantity of lamp
fixtures required and the lack of efficiency. The large quantities
of prior art fluorescent fixtures significantly increase the
initial installation costs, with no advantage or savings for the
increase labor cost, when compared to the installation of prior art
H.I.D. light fixtures. The traditional fluorescent lamp also lacks
the intensity needed for large spacing for high mounting
levels.
New technology has brought about the compact fluorescent lamp bulb,
which is a four prong lamp with two sets of joined ends creating a
double inverted U effect relative to the base. The normal wattage
for these double U-shaped fluorescent lamps is from 5 to 26 wattage
per lamp and the double U-shaped fluorescent lamps utilize clip-in
socket bases, such as commonly designated as G23, GX23, G23-2,
GX23-2, G24d1, G24d2, G24d3, G24q1, G24q2, and G24q3 (Sylvania
designation or equal). These U-shaped fluorescent lamps have been
designated Dulux S.RTM.,Dulux DS/E.RTM., Dulux D.RTM., and Dulux
D/E.RTM. by Sylvania, with comparable equals produced by other
manufacturers.
There have been several prior art patents utilizing these double
U-shaped fluorescent lamps and socket combinations. Among the prior
art patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,520,436; 4,704,664 and 4,922,393
of McNair and, additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,798 of Tickner.
McNair's patents describe light fixtures which utilize only a pair
of these small compact lamps, generally 3.4 inches to 7.6 inches in
length. The McNair double U-shaped lamps are mounted as to be askew
to each other in a reflector which allows light out one end in
quantities enough to replace small incandescent lamps (such as 50
W-100 W) in similar incandescent fixture configurations. The
reflector in McNair is also designed with openings in its upper
sides to allow for the mounting of the socket, and connection of
these sockets to the ballasts, which power the double U-shaped
fluorescent lamps from outside the confines of the reflector. The
complete light fixture package of McNair is further encased in a
larger housing to enclose the wiring, ballasts, and sockets.
The usefulness of these McNair fixtures over incandescent fixtures
is that the McNair fixtures can replace higher wattage incandescent
fixtures with a high percentage reduction of energy usage.
Moreover, the lamp life of the McNair double U-shaped fluorescent
lamps utilized is longer than incandescent lamps which the McNair
lamps can replace.
Another related prior art patent is that of Tickner, wherein a
light fixture utilizes a grouping of 26 watt compact fluorescent
"Dulux D" double U-shaped lamps, with either 6 lamps, 8 lamp, or 12
lamps per fixture. Single or pairs of lamps are activated by
individual ballasts. The lamps in Tickner are mounted in a solid,
non-translucent reflector as to direct all light in a downward
direction. The socket mounting plates are mounted within the
concave reflector from 1/4 to 1/2 the distance from the narrow base
opening of the reflector to the wider light emitting output portion
of the reflector. By combining this large number of 26 watt compact
double U-shaped fluorescent lamps the Tickner fixture can produce
as many as 14,400 initial lumens in an eight light configuration
and 21,600 lumens in a 12 lamp configuration. These wattages
produced by the Tickner device compare evenly with that of a 250
watt metal halide high intensity discharge lamp or a 200 watt high
pressure sodium. This low wattage compact fluorescent light fixture
of Tickner produces only approximately 69 lumen per watt, which is
a significant drawback. The Tickner fixture at it's maximum
potential cannot come near the very popular 400 watt metal halide
H.I.D. high intensity discharge lamps for production of lumens,
which initially producing 36,000 lumens, with a mean of 29,000
lumens.
Tickner also has the additional draw back of creating no uplight
which is the beneficial discharge of light above the plane of the
bottom outlet of the lamp reflector. Uplight capabilities prevent a
dead unlighted area above the upper hemisphere of a reflector and
allows for more even distribution of light. With Tickner, optional
lighting capabilities are limited because the opaque reflector
prevents uplight. The drawbacks of Tickner are shown in a certified
test report completed May 5, 1992 by Lighting Sciences Inc., 7830
E. Evans Road, Scottsdale, Ariz., U.S.A., 85260, test report
#LSI10775 (exhibit). In this certified report it is noted that the
"Dulux D" 26 watt double U-shaped lamps produce 69.23 lumens per
watt and that the overall efficiency of the fixture is 79.1%.
Additionally, it is noted that little or no candlepower is produced
above 75 degrees and virtually none beyond 90 degrees or in the
upper hemisphere. All of the findings of this testing are typical
of the Tickner patent and configuration.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art
patents, it is a desirable object of the present invention to
produce a fixture producing higher quantities of light as to allow
for the 1 for 1 replacement of the greater wattage of high
intensity discharge light fixtures.
It is a further object of the present inventor to show greater
lumen production per watt and a greater efficiency produced by the
fixture itself.
It is yet another object to produce uplight capabilities would
broaden the possibilities of utilization in not leaving a dead
unlighted upper hemisphere.
It is yet another object to produce a light fixture which allows
for a more even distribution of light through reflectance through a
translucent reflector/refractor.
To improve over the disadvantages of the prior art, it is another
object of the present invention to create a superior lighting
fixture not only a different one.
It is also a further object of the present invention to utilize the
most efficient fluorescent lamp available and to produce the
highest efficiency combination of lamp locations, electronic
ballasts and reflector and or refractor.
It is yet another object of the present invention to allow for the
preselected control of predetermined set of lamp individually to
create lower light levels when required and extend lamp change
intervals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In keeping with these objects and others which will become apparent
the present invention includes a luminaire lighting fixture which
contains a reflector/refractor, a plurality of multi lamp "Dulux L"
single U-shaped compact fluorescent lamps, such as, preferably,
lamps which have a Sylvania designation or equal, a plurality of
configuration sockets, such as 2G11, 2G7, 2GX7, preferably Sylvania
designation or equal, a socket plate holding the sockets, a remote
ballast enclosure and wherein the reflector/refractor has an
ability to receive a bottom enclosing lens.
The translucent concave reflector and/or refractor of the present
invention allows from 1 to 80% uplighting, depending upon the type
of material utilized and the method of construction. The reflector
and/or refractor of the present invention includes a smaller base
end and larger open end, which may possibly be a lens receiving
end. The reflector and/or refractor is of a symmetrical concave
shape relative to the line extended through the center of itself
and/or the entire lighting fixture. A ballast enclosure is fastened
at the smaller base end of the reflector and/or refractor. There is
also the possibility of remoting the ballast enclosure, to reduce
the overall height of the entire assemble.
A socket plate is mounted at the base end of the fixture anywhere,
from zero to 1/2 the distance from the base end to the open or lens
receiving end of the reflector and/or refractor.
The lamps utilized are single U-shaped fluorescent lamps, such as
"Dulux L" of Sylvania designation or equal, which are compact
fluorescent lamps in quantities from 6 to 12 per fixture. The
reflector and/or refractor can additionally have the ability to
receive a lens to enclose the bottom light emitting end, with or
without the ability to refract the produced light.
The single U-shaped fluorescent lamps, such as "Dulux L" lamps,
receive their power from ballasts mounted in the ballast enclosure
which is attached or alternatively remoted from the fixture of the
present invention.
The aforementioned objects and other features of the present
invention may be apparent from the description of the drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view in partial section of a prior
art incandescent lighting fixture;
FIGS. 2A and 2B show in partial cross-section front elevational
sectional views of a plurality of typical prior art high intensity
discharge lighting fixtures;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view in section of a prior art
lighting fixture including a plurality of symmetrically placed
double U-shaped fluorescent bulbs within a solid, opaque reflector,
wherein the support for the bulbs is placed from one fourth to one
half of the distance from the base end of the reflector to the
light emitting end thereof.
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view in partial section of the
lighting fixture of the present invention.
FIG. 4A is a front elevational view of an alternate mounting
bracket for the light fixture of the present invention.
FIG. 4B is a top plan view of the alternate mounting bracket for
the light fixture of the present invention, as in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front elevational view in partial section of an
alternate embodiment of the lighting fixture of the present
invention with a remote ballast compartment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to FIG. 1, designated "Prior Art", there is shown cross
sectioned diagram of a typical high intensity discharge (H.I.D.)
fixture. H.I.D. fixture units have a large screw-in base (1) which
base (1) is screwed into a conventional socket, to receive
electrical power from a ballast, to obtain increased voltages to
energize the gases in the H.I.D. lamp (4). The light produced by
H.I.D. prior art fixtures is totally directed by a concave
reflector (3) in a downward direction out an open light emitting
end (5) of the high intensity discharge lighting fixture. The base
end in which the lamp (4) is mounted is noted by reference numeral
(2).
These high intensity discharge lighting fixtures as previously
stated are primarily used in warehouses, commercial buildings, and
other locations having relatively high ceilings. High intensity
discharge lighting fixtures (H.I.D.'s) most commonly use 250 watt,
400 watt, and 1000 watt mercury vapor, metal halide, or high
pressure sodium lamps. The light from a high intensity discharge
(H.I.D.) lighting fixture can be dispersed by means of a lens
attached to the rim at the open end or at light emitting end
(5).
FIGS. 2A and 2B show in partial cross-section two typical cross
sectional shapes of prior art high intensity discharge H.I.D.
reflectors.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a cross sectional view of the prior art U.S.
Pat. No. 5,197,799 Tickner, which shows a ballast enclosure (7)
attached above a securing plate (6). Attached to this plate is also
a socket mounting assembly including leg braces (8) holding
downward there from socket extension tabs (11) emanating from
support plate (12). Each socket (13) is fastened to each of the
socket extension tabs (11). Socket plate (12) includes 6 or 8 sides
to receive 6 or 8 double U-shaped fluorescent lamps. Tickner also
describes additional optional provisions to receive 4 lower
intermediate lamps to create a 12 lamp fixture. The wires in the
Tickner light fixture connect to the sockets (13) and then run
through a further upper section (10) back to the ballasts. In
Tickner, 26 W-4 pronged double inverted U-shaped lamps (22) of
Sylvania designation or equal are plugged into these sockets (13).
When illuminated, there is no uplight since all of the light is
directed in a downward direction by a solid opaque reflector (21)
which allows no light to pass through into the upper
hemisphere.
In contrast to the prior art light devices, the present invention
is described in FIG. 4, which is a cross sectional view of the new
design of the present invention, which includes a lighting fixture
having a reflector/refractor (24) including a ballast compartment
(29) which ballast compartment (29) is mounted directly above the
fixture or remoted with remote ballast compartment 29A whenever
overall fixture height needs to be reduced. Enclosed in the ballast
compartment (29) are sets of ballasts which power either 2 or 3
lamps per ballast. The ballasts receive their power through a cord
and plug unit (35) which can have 1 to 4 circuits within it for
individual control of these ballasts, with a plug to match those
requirements. The lighting fixture of the present invention can
also be optionally directly wired with no cord end. Below the
ballast compartment enclosure (29) is located a chase assembly (28)
which allows for the ballast leads which power the lamps to be
sleeved down to the sockets (23) to which they are connected. There
is also provided a plate assembly (27) which serves the purpose of
supporting the reflector/or refractor (24) wherein the plate
assembly collar (27) attaches to the socket mounting plate (26) at
the base end of reflector/refractor (24). Socket mounting plate
(26) is designed to receive from 6 to 12 "Dulux L" lamp sockets
(23) as it possesses a quantity of sides to match the quantity of
lamps (25) desired. The standard designation of these sockets (23)
are 2G11, 2G7, and GX11 of a Sylvania designation or equal
configuration. Sockets (23) can be used that have an additional
ability to clamp the 4 electrical contact pins of the "Dulux D"
lamps (25) into place. This clamping mechanism secures the lamp
from slipping in a downward direction. The lamp (25) can be
optionally and additionally supported by a mounting bracket (33),
as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B which mounting bracket (33) is attached
to a center axis post (33a) which runs up to the socket mounting
plate (26).
The lamps (25) utilized are referred to as Dulux L (Sylvania
designated or equal) compact fluorescents and come in wattages from
18 watts to 55 watts. The fixture of the present invention utilizes
only lamps (25) in the 32 watt to 55 watt range, due to the
objective of providing maximum light outputs. The lamps (25) range
in length from 16.6" to 22.6" and have rated lives of 10,000 to
20,000 hours and beyond.
The light created by these lamps (25) is then optically controlled
by a combination of the concave reflector and/or refractor (24) and
the possible optional addition of a light diffusing lens (31) held
in place by a band clamp or fasteners (32).
The use of a concave translucent refractor/reflector (24) allows
for the beneficial results or providing uplight capabilities, by
allowing a preset quantity of uplight, from 0 to 80 percent of
total light generated. This uplight capability allows for a very
even distribution of light through reflectance, as shown by
supporting test data of Luminaire Testing Laboratory, 905 Harrison
Street, Allentown, Pa. 18103, report #01481 on the 9 lamp unit and
a further testing comparison of Tupper Lighting Applications, P.O.
Box 794, Baldwinsville, N.Y. 13027 for Interior Lighting Point by
Point calculations which utilize the Luminaire Testing Laboratories
finding to calculate projected installation light levels. It is
noted that these tests are based on a 9 lamp "Dulux L" with three
energy efficient electronic ballast fixture with 3 lamps per
electronic ballast. The lamps used were FT39DL/841 (Sylvania) rated
at 2900 lumens each.
The test data supports the fact that the fixtures of the present
invention are capable of replacing conventional light fixtures 400
watt metal halide light fixtures on a 1 for 1 basis with
approximately equal light levels.
The great advantages of the light fixture of the present invention
is that it requires only 305 watts Vs 465 watts required for a
metal halide high intensity discharge light fixture. The great
efficiency of the present invention is created by the high lumen
output per watt produced by the nine lamps (25), for a total of
26,100 lumens, at 305 watts or 85.57 lumens per watt. Additionally,
the fixture has a efficiency rating of an excellent 86.1%. This
fixture produces 9856 lumens in the upper hemisphere (90 degrees to
180 degrees) which creates an excellent even distribution of light.
Unlike the prior art H.I.D. fixtures, the lamps of the present
invention retain approximately 90% of their lumen production over
their expected life.
The lamps ballast combination offers an instant restart, as opposed
to the extended warm up time required by conventional prior art
H.I.D. lamps. The color rendition of the single U-shaped
fluorescent lamp bulbs is also far superior to that of H.I.D.
lamps. Overall, the only advantage of H.I.D. lighting had over
conventional fluorescent light fixtures was the great amount of
lumen produced per fixture. Now the novel fixture of the present
invention negates that advantage.
Beyond the advantages of greater lumens per fixture, as shown in
the testing of a 9 lamp 305 watt fixture, as noted above, the light
fixtures of the present invention has the ability to add or delete
lamps (25), from 6 to 12 lamps, on a matching socket plate (26) and
to change the wattage of the lamps (25) from 32 watts to 55 watts,
which produces a fixture with a maximum lumens produce of 57,600
lumens. This results in providing more light than the mean lumens
produced by 2-400 watt metal halide high intensity discharge lamps.
The test data for such a light fixture with 55 watt lamps (25)
would be affected on an approximately proportionate basis as
compared wattage to wattage with the already tested unit.
There will be many variations in construction which should remain
within the intent of coverage of the present invention. Some of
these variations could use different ballasts, different quantities
of lamps per ballast, changes in reflector and or refractor,
changes in individual lamp wattages from 32 watt to 55 watts, use
of different lens at the bottom of the fixture, changes in
quantities of total lamps within the individual fixture, etc. Such
modifications may be made to the present invention without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as
noted in the appended claims.
* * * * *